Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, today expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the work of the U.S. Capitol Police, National Guard troops and federal and local law enforcement officials in ensuring the safety of the President-elect and Vice President-elect, Members of Congress, dignitaries and the public in preparation for Wednesday's historic Inaugural events.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today voted to impeach President Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors for the second time. Congressman Cohen led an early effort to impeach Trump by introducing five Articles of Impeachment on November 15, 2017, and voted to impeach Trump for the first time on December 18, 2019 but the Senate failed to convict him at trial.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN) today condemned the poor example set by President Trump in failing to wear a mask and in ridiculing those who follow guidelines set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thereby encouraging his supporters to endanger public health. He made the following statement:

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today extended his condolences to the friends, family and colleagues of veteran U.S. Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood, who defended the Capitol during Wednesday's insurrectionist attack and later died off-duty. This follows the Congressman's statement Friday expressing his appreciation for the service of Officer Brian Sicknick, who was killed in the line of duty during Wednesday's attack by Trump loyalists.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), who was in the House Gallery on Wednesday when the U.S. Capitol was overrun by insurrectionists, made the following statement on the death of veteran U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick:

"I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Sicknick, who died defending the U.S. Capitol complex and those of us who work there from mob violence. I strongly support Speaker Pelosi's decision to lower the flags at the Capitol to half-staff in his honor.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today introduced the Baseball Diplomacy Act to eliminate barriers to Cuban athletes entering the U.S. on non-immigrant visas only for the duration of the baseball season. The measure would allow players to retain their Cuban citizenship and return to Cuba with their earnings, rather than having to renounce their citizenship and abandon their families to play baseball in the United States.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

MEMPHIS – Congressman Cohen (TN-09) today announced that Shelby County Schools have received a $1,847,530 grant from the Department of Homeland Security and its Federal Emergency Management Agency to construct a safe room at Belle Forest High School. The grant will go toward the design and construction of a tornado safe room on the campus of Belle Forest High School. When school is in session, the safe room will be able to protect 1,187 students and 118 staff members of the school, for a total of 1,305 occupants.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today introduced legislation and Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey introduced a companion bill in the Senate to address the epidemic of childhood obesity in America. The measure, the Reducing Obesity in Youth Act, has implications for the future health of these children and has a bearing on future national health care costs and national security.

Today, one in three American teens and children are overweight or obese, placing them at risk of a host of cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.